Legendary percussionist Sanchez is average guy’

Thursday

Editor's note: This is a concert preview, but it can be a feature by deleting a couple sentences.

The American melting pot has created some memorable musical stews the past century, and Latin jazz percussionist Poncho Sanchez has cooked up more than a few of the concoctions.

At the forefront of the Afro-Cuban sound that merged with bebop in the 1960s and ’70s, Sanchez recently has been experimenting with the influences of funk, soul and rhythm and blues. He brings the blend of gut-wrenching melodies and toe-tapping rhythms to the Garde Arts Center at 9 p.m. Saturday when the Poncho Sanchez Latin Band takes the stage for a special show of old and new songs.

“People really go for the new Latin soul, and they like to dance to salsa,” Sanchez said in a phone interview. “We take Latin rhythm, which is festive and good to dance to, and mix it with soul, which has a lot of feeling.”

The Latin sound, said Sanchez, has never been more popular.

“In the last 20 years, it’s been a big explosion,” he said. “One thing I’m afraid of is that it doesn’t get too watered down. That’s what we all have to be careful with so that it has the same authentic sound, the same meaning.”

Sanchez, who has recorded more than 85 albums — including the 2000 Grammy Award-winning album, “Latin Soul” — has a new album just released this May, “Raise Your Hand,” which the singer and conga player said stays true to the authentic form of salsa.

A previous album, “Do It!,” featured the sound of Tower of Power, a funk band from the 1970s that Sanchez enjoyed listening to while growing up in Los Angeles. He also has recorded with the likes of Tito Puente, Ray Charles, Freddie Hubbard and Ed Harris.

“To be honest with you, I’m just an average guy. I grew up in a neighborhood; I’m a neighborhood guy, not some rich guy who studied; I’m a guy who came out of the ghetto, really, who learned music just by listening to the radio,” he said. “I took it upon myself to learn about music deeper, talk to musicians and listen to albums like crazy. I learned from the old school. I didn’t go to Berkeley.”

The youngest of 11 children, Sanchez grew up listening to a wide variety of music, but he was most influenced by conga great Mongo Santamaria and his band. Sanchez so idolized Santamaria, he named his son after him, but his son didn’t end up being interested in music, opting for a career in science.

“When he was 4, I was teaching him to play the conga drums, and we was doing pretty good, but one day he came up to me and said, ‘Dad, I don’t want to play.’ It broke my heart,” he said. “He said he wanted to play with the other kids.”

But Sanchez’s grandson Ivan seems to have caught the musical bug.

“He comes and beats on my drums, and it’s amazing. I see myself in him. I get such a thrill when I’m around him with his young energy,” Sanchez said. “Little Ivan, he hears music and starts jumping. He may be the one to carry it on.”

Reach Sharma Howard at 425-4235 or showard@norwichbulletin.com.

IF YOU GO

What: Poncho Sanchez Latin Band on stage.

When: 9 p.m. Saturday.

Where: Garde Arts Center, New London.

Price: Tickets are $30 and $35.

For more information, call 444-7373, Ext. 1, or visit www.gardearts.org or www.ponchosanchez.com